The Cupertino Courier
News
Local couple named 'distinguished' citizens
By Mary Gottschalk
As news of the selection of Helen and Eddie Owen as recipients of the Santa Clara Council of Boy Scouts of America 2007 Distinguished Citizens Award has spread, most people wonder why it took so long to recognize them.
Christine Davis, who nominated the Owens for this year's honor, speaks for many when she says, "It is something that is long overdue.
"Helen and Eddie in particular have dedicated so much of their lives to so many different organizations and there are so many people they have touched."
Davis and her husband John were last year's recipients and are co-chairing this year's dinner on Nov. 15.
Walter Mueller, development director of the local scouts' council, says, "the process is driven by the previous honorees.
"We look for people who have really established themselves in the community as leaders, are prominent in business in the valley, who model great character and great values and are emblematic of what the Boy Scouts stand for."
Helen says she and her husband were "totally taken aback" when they learned they had been named.
"We didn't feel we were among the ranks of Christine and John Davis, Barry Swenson, Murphy Sabatino, the Sobrato Family and all the others," she says speaking of past recipients.
However, the list of local good causes that have benefited from Helen and Eddie's efforts is far longer than the few who haven't.
Helen is on the board of JW House, O'Connor Hospital Foundation and Santa Clara University.
In 2001 she was chosen as Woman of the Year for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for Silicon Valley, partly in recognition for her fundraising efforts on behalf of the group, including the $50,000 she raised in a walkathon.
Additionally, Helen has been active over the years with HOPE Services, American Cancer Society's Cattle Baron's Ball, Valle Monte League, Catala Club at SCU, Sacred Heart Nativity School, Morgan Autism Center, Caritas Society of Catholic Charities and area Catholic high schools.
By her own estimation, Helen says, "whether I was a chair or a committee member, when you go back I've helped raise more than $10 million."
Eddie is the constant behind the scene support for Helen's efforts and when someone asks him what his job is, he often quips, "Whatever Helen tells me."
On his own, Eddie is on the boards of and has served as past chair of both American Musical Theatre and Christmas in the Park.
The invitations to the Boy Scout dinner pay homage to the deep agricultural roots of the Owens with photos of cherries, flowering trees, walnuts and plowed fields.
Helen grew up on her family's ranch in Santa Clara and recalls working in the family orchids from an early age.
"I picked cherries, I packed cherries and I sold sacks of onions," she says.
Eddie grew up in San Jose, often spending weekends and summers at his uncle's farm where he learned to chop cotton and crate food.
That experience came in handy as shortly after the two married in 1967, Eddie went to work for Helen's family's Marchese Family Properties.
Calling it "working the ranches," Eddie was familiar with the planting, growing and harvesting cycles of apricots, cherries, tomatoes and other crops.
Some of the farmland was leased, including some around the San Jose Airport, while other land was family-owned.
The lands they still own are partially developed or leased out for farming.
One of their major cherry orchards at the corner of Homestead Avenue and Lawrence Expressway is now the site of the new Kaiser Hospital and where JW House is being built.
The Owens, who recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, have two sons and four grandchildren with a fifth expected soon.
After living in Cupertino for three decades, they recently moved to Los Gatos.
The Santa Clara County Council, Boy Scouts of America 33rd Annual Distinguished Citizen Dinner honoring Helen and Eddie Owen is 6 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Santa Clara Marriott Hotel. Tickets are $275 per person and can be reserved by calling 408.280.5088, ext. 16.
